"That''s between me and Joshua, and it has nothing to do with you," Ste said coolly. She didn''t want to discuss Joshua with Leonard. "Give me your bank ount number. Since you paid by mistake, I''ll transfer the money back to you."


    Although she could have transferred the money using her phone, Ste didn''t want Leonard to see any of her personal information.


    Leonard nced at her and readily gave her his ount number. Ste entered it and transferred the exact cost of the meal, not a cent more or less.


    Just then, Keen, who had been wondering where she''d gone, came to find her. "Mom, what''s taking you so long?"


    "I''ll be right back, sweetie," Ste said.


    Keen turned his head and saw Leonard sitting nearby. He paused. "That man looks familiar..."


    Keen was still little, but his memory was freakishly good. It didn''t take him long to remember.


    "Oh, aren''t you the man from the hospital who told Mom to just drink more water..."


    Leonard''s brow twitched, and he cut Keen off with a harsh tone. "You don''t look like your mother. You''re ugly."


    Keen was stunned. He had been praised for being cute and handsome his whole life; no one had ever called him ugly. Perhaps because he''d met Leonard before, Keen wasn''t afraid of him. He just looked at Leonard, confused. "What''s wrong, mister? Why are you suddenly so mean?"


    Ste looked at her son. "Keen, you know him?"


    Keen nodded. "He''s the man from the hospital..."


    But before he could finish, Leonard shot to his feet. Startled, Ste thought he was about to do something to Keen and instinctively pulled her son behind her.


    A sh of annoyance at being exposed crossed Leonard''s eyes. He threw a cold parting shot, "You''ve got the wrong person," and walked away quickly, the way he hurried off made it look an awful lot like he was running away.


    Ste and Keen stood there, watching Leonard''s abrupt departure. They exchanged a look, their eyes filled with confusion at his strange behavior.


    To Ste, Leonard had never been a normal person, so his odd actions seemed somewhat expected. As for what Keen had said, she didn''t take it to heart, assuming her son had simply mistaken him for someone else. She and Leonard couldn''t stand each other; there was no reason for him to visit her in the hospital.


    The little episode was soon forgotten.


    After dinner, Ste, Abby, and Keen returned to the Williams family estate together. Haynes tried to tag along but was unceremoniously shooed away by Abby. Joining them for a meal on the day Ste was discharged from the hospital was already a big concession Did really think he coulde home with them?


    The


    Just looking at Haynes and Foreman made Abby want to punch them.


    Back at the Williams estate, the three had just entered the grand hall when Jonathan walked out to meet them. He stopped when he saw Ste.


    "Star, I need to talk to you. By the way, were you on a business trip these past few days? You haven''t been home or at the office."


    Abby said sarcastically, "Star was sick for days and just got out of the hospital, and Mr. Williams still has no idea where she''s been?"


    Jonathan''s expression changed slightly. "Star, you were sick?"


    "Yes, I had a fever for a few days," Ste said faintly. "It''s nothing serious now."


    Jonathan''s tone held a hint of usation. "If you were sick, why didn''t you tell us?"


    Abby''s cool voice drifted over from the side. "That''s because certain people got rid of Star''s most capable bodyguard. Star was all alone, with no one to rely on. With her safetypromised, she naturally couldn''t let people with ulterior motives know about her condition."